The hierarchy among reed instruments is bravely inverted here as the bass clarinet, often seen as the oddball member of the family, takes centre stage in a session from something of an all-star band. Drawing on a wide range of influences that include Middle Eastern and Indonesian folk as well as New Orleans swing, the Israeli improviser-composer-leader Etikin roots his music deep in many traditions all the while keeping the harmonic palette rich. The combination of Etkin's bass clarinet and Curtis Fowlkes' trombone is an astute move on the leader's part as the lower tones of the two instruments bring a dark weightiness to the ensemble sound that is not overpowering, and the contrasts created with the piercing, often soprano register of Loueke's guitar are never less than interesting. Waits and Allison make for a sturdy but supple axis for the music, and the whole ensemble seems to have understood that the rich, often plaintive motifs and melodic hooks are not simply foils for bouts of showy soloing. Elsewhere Etkin gets good mileage from his clarinet and tenor sax but it's the bass clarinet-led themes that make all the right noises. It would be no insult to say that this work could suit the raucous setting of a wedding or family gathering just as it would the more reverential ambience of a concert hall.